Story perspectives

Teacher Slams “Lord of the Flies” Narcissism, Urges Doorway Reading

5/11/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Former writing instructor calls students’ personal-relevance book judgments literary narcissism after viewing Netflix’s Lord of the Flies series.
He related only to Piggy and recalled assigning essays on Piggy’s spectacles, a symbol he forced students to analyze.
He cited a 2008 New York Public Library interview where Fran Lebowitz told Toni Morrison books are mirrors, not doors.
He urges readers to treat art as a doorway to shared humanity beyond self-reflection.

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Story summary

Former writing instructor calls students’ personal-relevance book judgments literary narcissism after viewing Netflix’s Lord of the Flies series.
He related only to Piggy and recalled assigning essays on Piggy’s spectacles, a symbol he forced students to analyze.
He cited a 2008 New York Public Library interview where Fran Lebowitz told Toni Morrison books are mirrors, not doors.
He urges readers to treat art as a doorway to shared humanity beyond self-reflection.